f South
Carolina, that no respectable Carolinian refuses to shake hands with a
black man, unless--the black happens to be free.

"I thought I wouldn't wait for you," I replied. "But how did you expect
to get on? the 'runs' have swollen into rivers."

"We got a 'flat' made for dis one--it's down by dis time--de oders we
tought we'd get ober sumhow."

"Jim, this is Scip," I said, seeing the darkies took no notice of each
other.

"How d'ye do, Scip_io?_" said Jim, extending his hand to him. A look of
singular intelligence passed over the faces of the two negroes as their
hands met; it vanished in an instant, and was so slight that none but a
close observer would have detected it, but some words that Scip had
previously let drop had put me on the alert, and I felt sure it had a
hidden significance.

"Wont you get into de carriage, massa?" inquired Jim.

"No, thank you, Jim. I'll ride on with Scip. Our horse is jaded, and you
had better go ahead."

Jim mounted the driver's seat, turned the carriage, and drove off at a
brisk pace to announce our coming at the plantation, while Scip and I
rode on at a slower gait.

"Scip, did you know Jim before?" I asked.

"Hab seed him afore, massa, but neber know'd him."

"How is it that you have lived in Georgetown five years, and have not
known him?"

"I cud hab know'd him, massa, good many time, ef I'd liked, but darkies
hab to be careful."

"Careful of what?"

"Careful ob who dey knows; good many bad niggas 'bout."

"Pshaw, Scip, you're 'coming de possum'; there isn't a better nigger
than Jim in all South Carolina. I know him well."

"P'raps he am; reckon he _am_ a good 'nuff nigga."

"Good enough nigga, Scip! Why, I tell you he's a splendid fellow; just
as true as steel. He's been North with the Colonel, often, and the
Abolitionists have tried to get him away; he knew he could go, but
wouldn't budge an inch."

"I knew he wouldn't," said the darky, a pleasurable gleam passing
through his eyes; "dat sort don't run; dey face de music!"

"Why don't they run? What do you mean by facing the music?"

"Nuffin' massa--only dey'd rather stay har."

"Come, Scip, you've played this game long enough. Tell me, now, what
that look you gave each other when you shook hands meant."

"What look, massa? Oh! I s'pose 'twar 'cause we'd both _heerd_ ob each
oder afore."

"'Twas more than that, Scip. Be frank; you know you can trust _me_."

"Wal, den, massa," he replied hesitati